NEW YORK, NY — The College Football Playoff (CFP), in conjunction with ESPN, has unveiled the schedule, kick times, and broadcast details for the 2025-26 playoff season, promising fans an exciting lineup of games. ESPN, which has been the exclusive broadcaster of the CFP since its inception in 2015, will continue to showcase the games in its expanded package, including all four First Round games, with two sublicensed to TNT Sports/WBD.
The highlight of the 2025-26 schedule is the New Year’s Day tripleheader of Quarterfinal games on ESPN, featuring new kickoff times for a more streamlined viewing experience. The Capital One Orange Bowl is set to start at noon ET, followed by the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential at 4 p.m., and concluding with the Allstate Sugar Bowl at 8 p.m. This adjustment in start times aims to enhance the tradition of New Year’s Day college football, offering an uninterrupted day of thrilling matchups.
“This New Year’s Day schedule adjustment is the result of a thoughtful collaboration between the CFP, ESPN, the Capital One Orange Bowl, the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential, and the Allstate Sugar Bowl,” said Rich Clark, executive director of the College Football Playoff. “All three bowls shifting their start times allows us to place each game in an ideal window on New Year’s Day and provide the optimal viewing experience. New Year’s Day and college football are synonymous with each other, and these changes only strengthen that relationship.“
Further along in the playoff season, ESPN will broadcast each of the four Playoff Quarterfinals, the two Playoff Semifinals, and the 2026 CFP National Championship. This year’s championship game is slated for Monday, January 19, at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. Impressively, this marks the first time since the 2021 contest that the championship returns to Miami, following a similar trend as Atlanta hosting the title contests in both 2018 and 2025.
The previous season’s viewership numbers underscore the immense popularity of the CFP. The 2024-25 Playoff Quarterfinals achieved multi-year viewership highs, with the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl attracting 17.3 million viewers, setting a record as the most-watched pre-3 p.m. ET bowl game. The CFP Semifinals also set records, with the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic drawing 20.6 million viewers, and the Capital One Orange Bowl reaching 17.8 million viewers, marking it as the second-most-watched in nearly two decades. Additionally, the 2025 CFP National Championship between Ohio State and Notre Dame recorded 22.1 million viewers, making it the most-watched non-NFL sporting event of the past year, with a peak of 26.1 million viewers during the showdown.
As college football fans anticipate the upcoming season, the enhanced scheduling and partnerships assure an unforgettable experience, maintaining the tradition and excitement synonymous with the College Football Playoff. With ESPN’s continued dedication and strategic adjustments, the 2025-26 edition is set to deliver compelling narratives and thrilling football action
